South-Central Monarch Project
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The recovery of the monarch butterfly and the goal to thus preclude the need for federal listing of the species
has prompted immense effort and investment among government agencies, NGO's, universities, the private
sector, and Texas landowners. However, species recovery is most effective when research, conservation
efforts, and investments are comprehensive and coordinated across the range. Unlike the mid-western and
northern part of the species range in the United States, rangelands and urban areas dominate the landscape
supporting the spring and fall monarch migrations in Texas and Oklahoma. Texan by Nature will convene
experts and organizations engaged in monarch research and conservation in the south-central portion of the
butterfly’s migratory pathway to ensure a more comprehensive partner conservation strategy, and to optimize
the effectiveness of recovery efforts in this portion of the migratory pathway.
SOUTH-CENTRAL MONARCH SYMPOSIUM
May 31–June 1, 2017
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas
A symposium of monarch conservation partners and scientists will be held on May 31–June 1, 2017 at the Lady
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas. The outcomes of the symposium will lead to postsymposium work to further coordinate and implement a comprehensive conservation monitoring plan and
identify key strategies for recovery of the monarch. These strategies will serve as a catalyst for additional and
more strategic phases of work.
Post-symposium communication and workshops will be held through May 2018 to implement the outcomes of
the symposium. In addition to partnership building, the symposium will have four areas of focus – research
and monitoring, land management and private landowner initiatives, conservation strategy development, and
communication and outreach.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Conservation practitioners from organizations and state and federal agencies, private landowners, and other
scientists who are involved in research and conservation efforts benefitting the monarch butterfly, with an
emphasis on the eastern migratory population.
PARTNERS
To more adequately address the conservation challenges facing the monarch in the south-central part of its range
will require a collaborative effort among representatives from all agencies and organizations currently engaged in
monarch conservation efforts. Partners (at time of printing) who will actively contribute to the proposed
symposium and outcome deliverables are as follows:
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Environmental Defense Fund
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Monarch Joint Venture
Monarch Watch
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
National Wildlife Federation
The Nature Conservancy
Noble Foundation
Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture
Oklahoma City Zoo
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Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation
Oklahoma Biological Survey
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma State University
Texas Agricultural Land Trust
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M Institute of Renewable
Natural Resources
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas State Soil and Water
Conservation Board
Texas Wildlife Association
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Xerces Society
SYMPOSIUM GOALS AND OUTCOMES
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Develop a comprehensive overview of current conservation efforts and scientific research in Texas and
Oklahoma
Consolidate data on the monarch butterfly migration, associated habitat characteristics, and conservation
efforts on the ground
Facilitate efforts to consolidate information (especially data unique to Texas and Oklahoma) in a more
central location where it can easily be accessed by the FWS Species Status Assessment (SSA) process, other
government agencies, conservation partners, and the public
Identify gaps in current scientific understanding and habitat management practices and develop
approaches to fill those gaps
Evaluate the success of existing conservation efforts
Develop a framework to evaluate and measure the conservation benefit of these efforts in Texas and
Oklahoma
Identify definitive, usable knowledge on which management practices affects monarchs as well as other
species
Develop a collaborative plan to promote adaptive management and to ensure consistent monitoring efforts
are in place to allow for the measurement of conservation gains in existing research or management
protocols
Develop a framework and process for establishing measurable conservation goals for the south-central
region
POST SYMPOSIUM GOALS AND OUTCOMES
After the symposium, efforts will continue to facilitate the finalization and implementation of the strategies and
plan developed by symposium participants. This will include, but not be limited to:
• Organize symposium outcomes into findings that can be used as a roadmap for conservation of the
monarch butterfly by program partners
• Communicate symposium outcomes through various outreach mechanisms
• Coordinate partner efforts created during the symposium
• Create a set of measurable conservation goals that will inform progress toward recovery of the species
• Implement a monarch conservation monitoring plan and facilitate the workgroup to further refine and
monitor progress towards conservation goals for the species.